Bangladesh, Feb. 27 -- A US federal judge has issued a strict deadline for the administration of President Donald Trump to release billions of dollars in frozen foreign aid, ruling that the White House must comply with court orders to unfreeze funds that had been allocated but withheld. The decision comes after NGOs and government contractors sued the administration, claiming that the aid freeze was illegal and had caused severe disruptions to their operations.

Trump initiated a sweeping freeze on most US foreign aid funding on his first day in office, directing a review of all assistance to ensure compliance with his “America First” policies. The administration justified the move as part of a broader effort to eliminate what...